When you’re shopping for an industrial thermal fluid heater for your facility, one of the first questions you’ll ask yourself is whether to buy an API or Non-API style thermal fluid heater.
Budget is certainly on every plant manager’s mind, and with API heaters costing slightly more than non-API heaters, you may be wondering: are API-style heaters worth the investment?
The short answer is: yes. Why? While prices run a little higher, API style heaters are safer, more efficient, and outlive non-API heaters, meaning your initial investment ultimately will pay off in the longterm.
We’ve broken down more of the benefits of API style thermal fluid heaters below:
What sets an API Style Heater apart from other heaters?
API stands for “American Petroleum Institute,” the national trade association that represents the oil and natural gas industry in the United States. In addition to research and advocacy, the API comes up with API Specifications, or recommended practices and standards, for equipment in the industry, including industrial thermal fluid heaters.
That means API style heaters, like the heaters produced by American Heating Company, have been built to meet the API’s rigorous specifications, which have been written based on years of industry research.
Why Do I Need an API Style Thermal Fluid Heater?
There are three main reasons why API style heaters are worth the investment:
1. Safety
With the risks associated with high powered industrial heating equipment, it’s no surprise that the API considers safety a top priority. API style thermal fluid heaters conform to the API standards for safe operating practices, meaning you can have the peace of mind knowing your heater is built to withstand continual use and not be a liability to your facility.
2. Efficiency
API-style thermal fluid heaters have certain features, like coil type, capacity, and ease of maintenance that sets them apart from non-API thermal fluid heaters. These key features allow API-style heaters to run hotter, use less fluid, and get back up running quicker after a repair. In fact, because API style heaters utilize serpentine coils, they typically offer 10 to 15% greater efficiency than non-API style thermal fluid heater.
3. Profitability
Because API style heaters run more efficiently, use less resources, and are easier to maintain than non-API heaters, they pay for themselves in the long run. Facilities that compromise and purchase a less-efficient thermal fluid heater to save a quick buck, can often find themselves shelling out cash to pay for costly repairs and perhaps even have to stop operations all together until their heater is up and running again. With an API-style heater, you can be rest-assured knowing your dependable investment was worth the price tag.
Considering Upgrading to a API Style Heater?
If you’re looking to enhance safety in your facility, increase your heater’s efficiency, and save money in the long run, API-style heaters are certainly worth the investment.
Have questions about API style thermal fluid heating equipment? Give us a call today at (715) 748-5888 or contact us online! We’ve been constructing API-style heaters and heating equipment for decades and would love to put our experience and insight to work for your facility.
Looking for additional insight when it comes to shopping for API-style industrial thermal fluid heating equipment?
The following resources are a great place to start:
API-Style Thermal Fluid Heaters vs. Non-API Thermal Fluid Heaters– We compare and contrast the two heater types here so you can make an informed decision regarding what’s best for your plant.
What’s the Difference Between ASME Code and API Code?– Learn the difference between these two codes and explain why they’re important when it comes to industrial heating equipment.
API Specifications: What They Are and Why They Are Important– Learn some of the details about API specifications, including what they are and why the highest quality industrial heating equipment adheres to them.